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Stop using media as a political weapon, journalists groups tell government, opposition

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(TJA/IFEX) - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated May 3 as World Press Freedom Day to observe annually the importance of press freedom - that it is part of the fundamental rights of the people.

In recognition of the importance of this day, the Thai Journalists Association (TJA), the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association (TBJA) and the Confederation of Thai Journalists (CTJ) and allied organizations would like to make the following recommendations to
parties concerned.

1. We urge all media to realize that amidst the crisis facing the country, they must perform their duty with respect for human dignity, avoid using abrasive words that instigate hate, serve as a public platform for all sides equally and report fairly on the roots of problems facing the country and their solutions.

Despite the constitutional guarantee of free expression and press freedom, the media are bound to perform their duty in accordance with the principles of social responsibility and professional ethics.

2. We urge all parties in the current conflict to stop using the media as a political tool to fight against each other by way of propagandizing, distorting facts to their own benefit, instigating hatred against their adversaries or inciting violence to resolve the conflicts.

3. We appeal to the executive and legislative institutions to show their sincerity in implementing reforms in the fields of both radio and television by accelerating the enactment of related laws to ensure a free and fair distribution and regulation of frequencies and enforcing those laws related to the broadcast and radio and television business regulations. At the same time, state agencies that own public frequencies must show their willingness to reform themselves in response to changes in society. In this regard, the government must cease to interfere and use state media as its political tool.

4. We appeal to the people to use their judgment wisely in receiving news and information and to open up to diverse views from the media. The public must also exercise caution in receiving news and information from media that are being used as a political tool.

5. We, the undersigned organizations of media professionals, reiterate that press freedom is important to our democracy and underpinned by the constitutional monarchy. Any action by any group that abuses the people's right to free expression is unacceptable and will be resisted with the fullest force possible.

During the year, the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) junta curtailed the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly through repressive laws such the Referendum Act, the Computer Crime Act, and article 116 of the penal code on sedition, as well as NCPO orders censoring media and preventing public gatherings of more than five people.

The authorities proposed new measures that could further restrict media freedom, including a Cybersecurity Bill that would increase surveillance, prevent the publication of sensitive material, and facilitate data interception and website blocking. However, the government appeared to step back from plans to create a single gateway for all internet traffic following a public outcry.

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